Saturday, September 10, 2011

Patagon Journal Proposing to Launch

For some time now, Puerto Varas-based journalist Jimmy
Langman has been developing the bilingual website Patagon Journal, whose mission is to “build a greater appreciation, understanding and environmental stewardship of Patagonia.” Langman, whom I have known for many years, has a long resumé as South American correspondent for various US and UK media, including Newsweek, the Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, and The Times of London - as well as a competing guidebook publisher whose name I will decline to mention.

With the intention of turning it into a bilingual print magazine, Langman has begun a fund-raising campaign through Kickstarter, which helps raise money for creative projects. Between now and October 6th, Patagon Journal needs pledges totaling $15,000 to put the project on a solid financial footing. Depending on
the amount, donors will be eligible for awards ranging from simple subscriptions to a two-night stay at the Aisén region’s Puyuhuapi Hotel & Spa (pictured below).

What I particularly like about Patagon Journal is its goal to “show all facets of Patagonia’s natural and cultural landscape, and at the same time help contribute to its long-term protection.” The magazine will also be “published on FSC-certified paper as well as on the iPad with additional content such as video” and “abundant and beautiful photography on diverse environmental, cultural, scientific and other topics. In addition, a travel section provides a close look at the best destinations and excursions in the region, and top experts in Patagonia for fly fishing, trekking, mountaineering, the environment and other topics are featured through regular departments. Ten percent of its subscription revenues are to be shared with non-profits working to protect Patagonia's environment and culture.”

This is a worthwhile independent journalism project that deserves to get off the ground. Any readers with the resources to contribute, even on a modest level, would be rewarded by doing so.

Next month, I will be on the road promoting the new third edition of Moon
Handbooks Patagonia. Most of the events will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I will also be appearing in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington;
Vancouver BC; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Pasadena, California. Watch this spaces for details.

Argentina Travel Adventures App

With more than 30 years living and traveling in Latin America, I write guidebooks to the "Southern Cone" countries - so called because of their shape on the map - of Chile and Argentina. I'm especially interested in the remote, scenic Patagonian region overlapping the two countries. I am the sole author of Moon Handbooks to Argentina; Chile & Easter Island; Buenos Aires, including the city's hinterland and coastal Uruguay; and Patagonia, including the Falkland Islands.
I have a PhD in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley, and have done research in Peru, Chile, Argentina and the Falklands, where I spent a year as a Fulbright-Hays scholar.
My home base is Oakland, California, but I spend five months a year in southern South America. I often stay in Buenos Aires, where my Argentine wife and I have a second home, an apartment in the barrio of Palermo.
I speak fluent Spanish, less fluent German, serviceable Portuguese and desperation French.
Any questions, please contact me at southerncone (at) mac.com, or leave comments by clicking on the word "comment" at the bottom of each entry. Comments are moderated, but I get to them quickly.